Pumpkins popping up in farm markets

Produce displays at area farm markets and roadside stands make a transition from summer to fall offerings, with pumpkins, one of fall's brightest symbols, making a debut.

According to Agricultural Specialist Bob King, yields are down in weight and volume for this year's pumpkin crop but quality is good. Pumpkins grown in fields without irrigation will be lighter in weight than previous year's product. Pumpkin crops from irrigated fields are much the same in weight as last year's crop.

Regardless of whether farmers irrigated or not, weather conditions impacted the pumpkin crop in several ways. Contrary to common practice, later plantings of pumpkins yielded better than pumpkins that were planted early. This is partially due to the cold and wet conditions of the spring that caused soils to be saturated early in the season. Consequently, many fields were not prepared sufficiently enough for an ideal seedbed. Due to saturated soil, later planted pumpkins were able to tap into soil moisture found at a foot or more and able to survive hot and dry weather conditions.

Prices are expected to range from 20 to 35 cents a pound. Prices will remain stable throughout the season.

New York state pumpkin statistics

• Third in the nation in terms of acreage (7,400 acres) and yield (1344 x 1,000 cwt.)
• $25 million annual farm revenue
• Planted acreage increasing at a rate of 10 percent per year.

Monroe County pumpkin statistics

• Fourth in the state in terms of acreage (515 acres)
• Over 80 percent of fields non-irrigated
• Total annual revenue of $2 million
• Approximately 80% of the volume is sold at local retail markets.